Type-writing machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. C. TOWLE.

TYII: WRITING MACHINE. No. 466,200. Patented Dec. 29,' 1891.

| :nJ co., Fumo-mummsmunvnn u c (No Model.) 3 Sheet's--Sheet 3.

G. C. ToWLB. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented.'v Deo. 29, 1891'.

LI I

MTM-:5555- 'UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. TOWLE, OF HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE POPE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,200, dated December 29, v1891.

Application filed June 13, 1889. Serial No. 314,110. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Bel it known that I, GEORGE C. TOWLE, of IIyde Park, county of Norfolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Type-VVriting Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters -on the drawings representing like parts.

My present improvements relate more particularly to that class of type-writing machines in which the type are carried on a bar which is moved longitudinally by the hand of the operator in connection with an index-plate and adjusting-bar to bring the proper type character to position and is moved vertically downward to produce an impression of the chosen character upon the paper below; but my improvements are applicable also in other varieties or styles of type-writing machines, and while I show and describe them in combination in a machine of this class I do not mean to limit myself thereto.

In my present improved type-writing machine I have devised a type-bar with two rows of type on its under side, either of which may be brought into use instantly, an improved carrier for this type-bar, and improved devices for operating and partially rotating it in the carrier; also, improved devices for p roducing the impression or vertical action of the type-bar, distributing `the work of writing to the two hands of the operator, and also an improved paper-carriage containing a xed platen and carrying the paper or envelope substantially in a flat horizontal position instead of a coiled one, and an improved inkiug apparatusand spacing devices and other improvements in devices and combinations which will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the drawings, parts, improvements, or combinations which constitute my invention being particularly pointed out in the herein-contained claims. v

Figure 1 shows my improved type-writing machine in vertical longitudinal section transversely of the type-bar, the paper-car riage being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 shows the same in top plan view; Fig. 3, a perspective view showing the relative positions of the main operative parts; Figs. 4 and 5, perspective views of some of the parts detached, which will be hereinafter referred to; Fig. 6,

a detail showing the type-bar and some of the els, the line of movement of said paper-can' riage, which determines the line of the print! ing, being transverse to the line of movement of the rows of type by which any desired character thereof is brought over the printing-point. the base A2 upon a hollow pillar or upright :A3, properly located to accommodate movement of the paper-carriage and paper beneath the said overhanging arm. The vset of type are shown in this instance as arranged in straight'lines or rows on a type support or bar d, itself longitudinally movable in a typebar guide b, which itself has an np-and-down movement with relation to the paper-carriage below for the purpose of making the impression upon the paper after the type-bar has been moved in said guide to the proper position to bring the required type or character to the printing-point.

In order to bring the type-bar within convenient limits and to increase the capacity of the machine, I arrange the printing characters upon it in a number of rows a3 and d4, Fig. 3, the said rows being arranged on the arc of a cylinder or in different planes, so that when one row is in its lowermost position, or pointing directly downward'to'ward the paper, the other row is slightly above it, so that it cannot touch the paper when the type-bar is depressed, and either row of type is brought to such position by an oscillating The said armA is supported over loo or rolling movement of its supporting-bar, which is shown in this instance as having its main portion cylindrical in shape to readily accommodate its oscillating and sliding movement in the guide b and as supporting the rows of type on a downwardly-projecting rib a5, the type themselves being shown as formed on a separate strip of material a, attached to such projection a5, such being the preferable zo construction. The guide b is mainly tubular in form to guide the main body of the typebar in both movements and has a longitudinal slot above to accommodate the devices that eiect such movements, and preferably has a shield-like extension b2, that covers for the main part the type, but has a suflicient opening over the printing-point to permit the type at that point to come upon the paper when depressed.

The longitudinal movement of the type-bar is produced by a carrier or slide c, having a longitudinal movement on guide-rods c2, themselves supported on projecting portions A4 at the ends ofthe overhanging arm A, the said rods c2 being sufficiently long to provide for a movement of the type-bar suiicient to bring the type at any point on its length into position over the `printing-point, which is in this instance about directly beneath the middle of 3o the outer end of the arm A. The said carrier c is provided with a vertical socket-piece or guide c3, which receives within it a guide rod or stem d, connected with the type-bara in such manner that longitudinal movement 3 5 o f the carrier c on the guide-rods c2 produces an equal longitudinal or sliding movement of the type-bar a in its guide b. The said guide rod or stem d is capable of moving longitudinally in the socket o3 to accommodate the 4o vertical movement of the type-bar by-which theimpression is made, as will be hereinafter described.

In order to enable the operator to bring the desired type to the printing-point, or, in other words, to select the character to be printed, the t-ype-bar carrier c is provided with a pointer c5, which extends over the stationary index-bar c, supported upon projections A5 on the arm A, the said index-bar having 5o marked upon it characters corresponding to the characters on the type-bar and in such position that when the pointer c5 is opposite a given character on the index-bar the corresponding character on the type-bar is over the proper point to make its impression when the bar is moved downward. The oscillating movement of the type-bar to bring the desired row of type to the printing position is produced by means of a switch or shifting 6o mechanism operated by a handle or ngerpiece d2, supported on the type-bar carrier c, so that it can be easily manipulated by the same hand that grasps the said carrier to produce the longitudinal movement of the bar, such oscillating movement requiring scarcely any appreciable additional eort or expenditure of time over what is required to hand.

position the type-bar longitudinally. rlfhc said. handle cl2 has a rotating movement on the carrier near the base of its guide projection c3 and is connected by a pin d3 with the beforementioned spindle or stem (I, which is slotted, as shown at d4, where the pin engages with said stem, so as to accompany the vertical movement of the type-bar in making the impression. The said spindle d is provided below the carrier c with a laterally-projecting arm d5, (see Fig. 4,) notched, as shown at d, to engage with a projection Z7 on the type-bar (1 as best shown in Figs. 3 and 6, so that the lateral movement of the handle or finger-piece d2 will, through its connection with the spindle d, arm d5, fork d6, and projection (Z7, produce the rolling or oscillating movement of the type-bar required to bring either desired row of type to the lowest or printing position, as may be desired. It will generally be desirable to bias the position or rolling action of the type-bar, as by means of.' a spring d8, (see Fig. 6,) tending to keep the bar with the line of characters most used-for example, the lowe r-case-in printing position, thus requiring positive effort ot' the operator only when the less-frequently-used or uppercase type are to be called into action. The spring d5 is by preference coiled about a pin d on the arm e3 and made fast thereto by one end, while the other end is fitted in a socket in the type-bar, as clearly shown in Fig. (S. The type-bar need be only approximately positioned by the hand of the operator, who may merely bring `the pointer c5 nearer the character on the index-bar that he desires toprint than to any other character, when the final accurate positioning will be performed automatically in the act of making the impression, these operations being performed by the following means: The type-bar is depressed to make the imprint by a bodily downward movement of its guide b, which is supported and guided in said movement upon the impression-frame b3, pivoted on a rock-shaft b4, having its bearings at or near the junction of the overhanging arm A with its supporting pillar or upright A3. The type-bar guide b is so far from the rock-shaft b4 that the slight movement of the type-bar required .for the imprint does not deviate materially from a rectilinear movementand causes the type to be properly presented to the paper below. The type-bar guide b or its supporting-frame b3 is provided with a suitable handle b5, ar-

ranged to be operated by the other hand of the operator than the one that manipulates the carrier c, and the operation of the handle b5 requires vertical movements only of the Thus the horizontal or positioning movements of the type-bar are performed by one hand, while the vertical or imprinting movements are performed by the other hand, and by such division of the work far greater speed ot' operation is attained, and the work is accomplished with less fatigue.

The final accurate positioning of the type-` IOO IIO

barv before referred to is effected by a posi-` tioning-bar e, having recesses or notches c2, corresponding in position to the different type on the bar and being beveled on their upper surfaces to receive a positioning-arm e3, which accompanies the type-bar in its downward or imprinting movements.` The. said arm e3 in coming against the beveled upper edges of the recesses in the positioning-bar brings the type-bar to accurate position, and as it passes below said beveled portion engages with the sides of the said recesses sufficiently close to keep the type-bar in accurate position as the type comes against the paper. The positioning-arm e3 has to accompany the type-bar both in its longitudinalmovement in the guide b and in its downward movement with the guide for making the imprint.; but it is not necessary that it should change its position materially for the oscillating movement of the type-bar. These relations are effected by conneet-ing said arm with a foot e4, that rests on the type-bar within the type-bar guide and is provided with a cylindrical projection or pintle e5, that fits within the lower end of the switch-spindle CZ, which is caused to accompany the type-bar in its up-and-down or imprinting movement by means of a pin or vprojection e6 (see Fig. 5) from the pintle e5, eX- tending into a slot e7 (see Fig. 4) in the switchspindle d, the said slot being extended circumferentially to .permit such oscillating movement of the .spindle and switch-arm as is needed to shift the type-bar. of the type-bar that rests beneath the feet e4 is provided with fiat seats, as best shown in,

Fig. l, which positively limit the oscillating movement of the type-bar and steady the same in its different positions. Thus the entire shifting device, with the exception of its handle d2, accompanies the type-bar in its pand-down or printing movements and at the same time affords the connection between the type-bar and its carrier c by which the said type-bar is moved longitudinally to bring the desired type to the printing-point. The typebar is-raised from the paper after the impression is had by means of a spring o7, (see Fig. 1,) connected with the arm A and engaging with a cross-piece 58 in the arm orimpressionframe b3, that effects the vertical or imprinting operation of the type-bar.

So far as the operations thus far described are concerned the inking of the type or application of the ink to the paper by the type might be effected by any suitable or usual means. As shown in this instance,the ink is applied directly to the type before each impression by -means of an inking-pad f, Fig. 1, which works directly over the printing-point and is supported on an arm f2, pivotedl at f3 upon a lever f4', pivoted at f5 on the arm A. The arm f2 is provided with a projection f6, working in a cam-groove f7 in the frame f3 and serving to guide the pad as it is moved transversely to the line of type by the swinging of the lever f4, the said guide or cam The portionv groove causing the pad to rise slightly when it is moved laterally away from the face of the type, which `is performed in the downward movement of the type, as will be described, so that before the' type reaches the paper the pad has been moved laterally from beneath the type and also raised with relation to the face of the type so that it does not come down to the paper. Thelateral movement of the inking-pad off and away from the face of the type is produced in the act of making an impression by a toggle-joint arrangement consisting of links fsf, the former connected with the lever or hanger f4 near its fulcrum and the latter connectedwith the type-bar guide or its frame at flo, the joint of said links being connected by another link f12 with the stationary arm A, so that when the joint f 10 moves downward with the type-bar in making the imprint it tends to straighten the toggle fsff, thus swinging the lever]C4 backward and moving the padflaterally off from the line of type and then upward, owing to the guidance of the cam f7. In the upward movement of the type-bar after theimprint is made the reverse operation takes place, bringing the pad laterally to the face ofthe type, and said pad remaining against the face of 'the type while the type-bar is moved for the purpose of selecting another character. The movements of the pad are positive; but the pad-carrying arm f 2 is also acted upon by a spring flwhich tends to steady the movement by taking up any lost motion and to press the pad slightly toward the face of the type. imprint thus far described are concerned the paper mightbe supported and moved and fed in anysuitable manner; but in order to secure the best results the improved paper-holding carriage, which will next be described, is adopted. The said carriage comprisesa frame-piece g, upon which the various paper holding and supporting devices are mounted, the f said frame working longitudinally in a guide B, fixed upon the-base A of the machine substantially at right angles to the line of the type-bar. The said carriage g is provided with a vplaten g?, which supports the paper at the point where the imprint is made, the said point being indicated by the inverted A (shown in Fig. 3) on the paper, which is marked with reference-letter P. The said platen preferably has'a flat surface tosupport the paper against the impression, and as the line of type is substantially straight it is necessary that the paper should be bent down orA depressed slightly at each side of the platen without, however, producing such a sharp bend as wouldinterfere with the operation of stiff paper or envelopes or would tend to crease the paper. The paper is fed over the platen `to bring it in proper position for the successive.

lines of writing by means of a feed-roll .72., preferably surrounded by rubberto afford a. Asuitable frictional hold on-the paper, the said' roll being journaled in uprights g3 at the ends,`

So far as the operations of making the IOO,

IIO

of the paper-carriage frame g. The paper s held against the roll, so as to be moved frictionally along when the said roll is turned, by means of a presser-plate t', preferably shaped to make contact-fingers i2, which rest in tangential contact with the feed-roll or paper thereon, the said plate being connected with a rod i3, also journaled in the uprights g3 and acted upon by a spring ii, which forces the plate or fingers thereof downward toward the feed-roll with a yielding pressure. The said rod i3 may be provided with a handle 5, for the purpose of rotating it slightly, so as to raise the presser-plate from the roll to facilitate the proper positioning of the paper thereon. The paper is held against the surface of the roll by the presser-plate slightly below the level of the platen g2, as best shown in Figs. 3 and G, and in order to producea similar depression of the paper at the other side of the platen, so that only the part resting directly on the platen will be touched by the descending type, the said paperas it leaves the platenis carried beneath a hold-down rod 7:1, supported in hook-shaped hearings or lugs g4 at the ends of the carriage, in which bearings it is held by springs g5 sufficiently yielding to enable the said bar to be removed, if required, to facilitate the placing of the paper beneath it. By these means only the one type which is immediately over the platen can touch the paper, as will be understood from Fig. 6, in which a portion of the type are represented in dotted lines in the position occupied when the desired one is making its imprint on the paper.

The paper is fed in the direction of the lineI of printing by the following means: The paper-carriage g is provided with a toothed bar m, which is acted upon by a pawl or dog m2, having a tooth or shoulder m3 to engage with the teeth of the bar, said pawl being vibrated longitudinally of the bar by a lever m4, pivoted at m5 on the stationary frame-work or guide B for the paper-carriage. (See Fig. l.) The said lever is connected at m with a link m7, having its other end connected with an arm m8 from the rock-shaft b4, on which the impression-frame bilis pivoted. The said link mi and a portion of the connected parts work in a slot A in the base A, as shown in Fig. l, and said link is acted upon by a spring m9, tending to move it in the direction to cause the dog m2 to pull the toothed bar and papercarriage in the desired direction for the feed, which operation takes place during the rise of the type-bar after an imprint has been made. The dog is moved forward during the act of making the imprint to engage the next tooth of the bar for the next feed movement, or when such feed is desired, with no accompanying impression, as at the end of a word by the following means: The rock-shaft b4, connected with the arm ons, is provided with a projection or feather n, (see detail, Fig. 7,) which extends into a recess in the frame b3, -one side of said recess engaging said feather and rocking the shaft b4, so as to move the arm m8 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. l, when said impression-f rame is moved to make the imprint. The recess in the impressionframe is cut away enough on the other side of the feather to permit of the rock-shaft making a similar movement, if turned by other means, without producing any movement of the impression-frame, as is required when a space is to be made at the end of a word or a feed movement made without making a corresponding imprint. Such spacing movement of the paper is produced by a space-lever p, having a handle p2 adjacent to the handle b5, by which the operator makes the imprint, such spacing-arm also engaging with the projection n on the rock-shaft b4, so that when it is depressed it will produce a similar rocking movement of the said shaft 4to that produced when the impression-frame b3 is depressed. The spacer-arm p and its handle may accompany the impression-frame, if desired, at each impression, it being essential only that it can be depressed independently of said impression-frame, and when so operated shall produce a movement of the feed-dog without any movement of the impression-frame, which result is provided for by the recess in the impression-frame before referred to. The handles p2 and b5, by which the spacing and imprinting are effected, are so placed that they can be engaged by two fingers of the same hand of the operator, who can thus depress either one, as desired, in the manipulation of the machine.

XVhen desired to move the paper-carriage independently of the automatic feed, it can be slipped along in the direction of the feed under the dog m2, which then ratchets over the teeth of the feed-rack or toothed bar m; but? when it is necessary to move it in the other direction the dog must be raised, and to perform this operation conveniently the said dog is provided with a projection r, resting over a rod or bar r2, which is hinged in the ends of the paper-carriage and provided with a handle r3, the depression of which raises the bar and pawl, so that the carriage may be moved back to any desired point. The paper is fed forward over the platen to present different parts to the platen or line of printing, or, in other words, for the lineto-line feed, by rotating the feed-roll 7L, which is provided with a handle or wheel 7z2,having properly-spaced notches engaged by a springcontact h3 to divide up its rotary movement into the proper amounts for line-spacing.

The machine is most conveniently manipulated as follows: The operator sits facing the end of the paper-carriage and the paper is inserted between the feed-roll and presser-plate and brought to proper position lengthwise of the feed-roll, the presser-plate being raised, if desired, by its handle i5 to facilitate this operation, and is carried over the top of the platen and beneath the downhold-rod c,which may be removed from its bearing to facilitate IOC IIO

this operation,vv if desired. The paper is brought to the proper position for printing by turning the feed-roll and by moving the papercarriage longitudinally, if required. Then the operator takes the type-bar carrier c in the right hand, controlling the shifterhandle d2 by the middle finger, and places two adjacent fingers of the left hand on the impression and spacer handles 125192. Then with the right hand the proper character is selected by the aid of the pointer c5 and index c6 and the impression then made by the other hand acting on the handle b5, the positioningbar e, with the co-operating projection e3, brlnging the type to accurate position and preventing any movement of the type along the surface of the paper or any sliding movement of the type-bar whatever until it has been again lifted from the paper by the spring (77 upon removal of the pressure on the handle b5, during which lifting movement of the type-bar the paper-carriage is fed to the proper position for the next imprint. lVhen a space is to be made, the operator depresses the handle p2 without depressing the handle b5, it being possible to move the type -bar to the position for the neXt imprint while such spacing operation is taking place. Thus by using both hands the speed of operation of the machine is greatly increased and the fatigue of operating the machine at the same time lessened.

l. In a type-writing machine, the longitudinally-movable type-bar, combined with a carrier movably connected with said type-bar, guide-rods upon which said carrier may be slid longitudinally, a stationary arm upon which the said guide-rods are fixed, a pivoted frame for supporting the type-bar, and a depressor for said frame, whereby the longitudinal movement of the type-bar may be effected by one hand of the operator and the impression made by operation of the other hand, substantially as described.

2. In a type-writing machine, a stationary frame, guide-rods thereon, an index-bar c6, and a positioning-bar e, combined with a carrier on said guide-rods, apointer on said carrier co-operatin g with the index-plate, a longitudinally-movable typebar,connections between the carrier and type-bar to cause them to move together longitudinally, and a positioningarm on said type-bar moving with its every movement and co-operating with the positioning-bar, substantially as described.

3. The combination ot` an impression-frame provided with a recess, a rock-shaft upon which it is pivoted, provided with a feather extending into said recess to cause the inlpression-frame and rock-shaft to move together, a type-bar and its guide mounted upon and movable with the impression-frame, a paper-carriage movable transversely to the axis of the said type-bar, said carriage being provided with a toothed bar, a dog engaging said toothed bar,a lever to which said dog is secured, a link connecting said lever with an arm of the rock-shaft, whereby said dog is moved as the impression-frame is moved, and a space-lever also pivoted to the rock-shaft and yco-operating with the feather thereon, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a platen and type and type-support movable toward and from the platen with the inking-pad and its supporting-arm and cam-guide for said arm and a supporting-lever for said arm operated by the movement of the type-support toward the platen, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a platen and type and type-support movable toward and fromL the platen with the inking-pad and its sup'- porting-arm, a cam-guide and a supportinglever for said arm, and a toggle-lever connected with said supporting-lever and with the type-support and stationary frame-work, as set forth, whereby the movement of the type-support toward the platen causes the printing-pad to be removed laterallyfrom the face of the type and raised during such movement, substantially as and for the purpos described.

6. The combination of the type-bar guide and type-bar having a longitudinal and oscillatingmovement therein with a carrier and guides therefor, a spindle connected with the` type-bar and having longitudinal and oscillating movement in a portion of said carrier, a handle on said carrier connected to oscillate said spindle, and an arm from said spindle lconnected with the type-bar, as described, whereby the oscillation of said spindle producesa corresponding oscillation of said typebar, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the type-bar guide and type-bar having a longitudinal and oscillating movement therein with a carrier and guides therefor, a spindle having longitudinal and oscillating movement in a portion of said carrier, and a foot-piece connected with said spindle and engaged with said type-bar, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the type and typesupport, of a paper-carriage having a platen that supports the paper beneath the imprinting-point,a feed-roll and presser on said carriage engaging the paper atone side of said platen and somewhat below its paper-supporting surface, and a hold-down bar engaging the paper at the other side of said platen and below its supporting -surfaee, and a hookshaped bearing on the paper-carriage for said hold-down bar, and aspring for retaining said bar in said bearing, substantially as described.

9. In a type-writing machine, a type-bar and a guide therefor, said type-bar havinga number of parallel rows of type along it,'combined too with a carrier for imparting `longitudinal 13o movement to the type-bar, and a switch supname to this specification in the presence of ported by the carrier and connected by an two subscribmg Wltnesses.

armjvit'h the'type-bm to oscillate said type- GEORGE C. TOWLE bar 1n lts gulde to bung one o1' another of 5 the rows of type in position to print, sub- Vtnesses:

stautially as described. Jos. P. LIVERMORE,

In testimony whereof I have signed my M. E. HILL. 

